Spider - Kohaku’s Sacrifice (2)

Uwah?! Just now, did I just hear a clanking sound?!

You did. It was likely the temperature and humidity that caused the place to rumble.

Aah…is that so? The place rumbling huh…

Is this wrong? It’s normal for someone to get scared by any weird noises that happen suddenly.

⁠—Agreed. HiMERU thinks it’s normal as well.

…HiMERU-han, you’re so calm. You probably don’t even feel the slightest bit scared after hearing all those horror stories, do you?

Well, that’s right. With being in the industry, those kinds of stories can be heard floating around extremely often, but they aren’t very credible.

Eh?! That much?!

Yes. They’re on TV and the radio. It appears that there’s more horror stories about studios and such, and there are also myths about occupied hotels on the countryside.

In addition, like Shiina described, the ES building has many mysteries of its own.

Uuu…just what’re you trying to say…?

However. As explained previously, the stories aren’t credible, so you don’t really need to be scared of them.

More importantly, these horror stories have inconsistencies that HiMERU is more interested in.

I really don’t know how else to say this, but you’re a really dry fellow. Finding flaws in horror stories really is something only you would have the audacity to do, HiMERU-han.

Well, that’s fair enough.

⁠—Oukawa. We’ve arrived at the restroom. HiMERU will wait for you outside, so please go and do what you have to.

Ah. Yeah, I’ll get going then.

Umm, the lightswitch⁠—ah, there it is. I’ll just flip it and…

There.

(Even though the lights turned on and it’s bright…I don’t know why the bathroom’s making me so anxious. There’s a big mirror plus it’s still and quiet space, I wonder if that’s what’s making me feel that way.)

(There’s no chance I’m gonna feel any better by staying here. Alright. HiMERU-han is still waiting for me out there. There’s probably nothing weird in such a clean restroom either.)

Don’t be scared, don’t be scared, don’t be scared…

I’m Rinne-kuuun¹. And I’m behind Kohaku-chyan right nyoooow…

GyaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAH!

O-Oukawa?! What’s going on?!

…

Um. Just what kind of situation is this exactly?

GyaaAAH! My arm! It’s gonna break, it’ll break!!!

I, I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I’m not afraid if you come at me! Get the hell outta here, you ghost!

…What happened is clearer now. This idiot snuck past HiMERU’s blind spot and startled Oukawa, correct?

Oukawa, Oukawa. Please calm down and look. That’s not a ghost, but it’s Amagi.

GyaaaAA⁠—ah…?

Kohaku-chan! Give, give²! At this rate you’ll break my arm! You’ll break it clean off!

… Hrrmph!

Owowowowow! Kohaku-chan! I’m telling you it’s not a ghost, it’s me, it’s me! I’m your “unit”s reliable leader Amagi Rinne, I’m telling you!

Obviously I’m tightening my grip because of you! You’re always going around doing all sorts of nonsense!

Auuughhhh! Give, give, give!

Haah…you two need to stop it. If you keep being this loud then the security guards will get suspicious. Our plans will be impeded if that ends up happening.

You’re such an asshole! I’ve had enough of all this!

Agreed. That was done in bad taste, Amagi.

n? Mrhff mrrrpgh~ (Welcome baaack~) Mogumogu

Aah! Niki! Just what are you doing, eating all by yourself?

⁠—Mogumogu… gulp. It’s because Kohaku-chan, HiMERU-kun, and Rinne-kun all left and never came back~

Seriously! I was out here having a bad time too, yknow? Usually to save energy I’d be sleeping by now. But since I’m up late I got hungry. I got really hungry…

Plus, I used up calories telling those 100 stories, so my hunger level really reached its limit. Mogumogu…

I really was gonna wait until everyone got back, y’know that? But I didn’t know how long that was gonna take. I was stuck on what I should do until I heard Kohaku’s scream from somewhere far off.

I figured Rinne-kun played some kind of prank on Kohaku-chan in order to scare him, so I guessed you’d be late coming back. I wasn’t just gonna wait to starve to death, so I ate and replenished my energy. Mogumogu…

Impressive, Shiina. It’s almost like you were there to witness it. It was unexpected that you’d guess 100% of Amagi’s actions.

Mogumogu…Well, we have been together for a long time~ I can just tell when most things are gonna happen. Mogumogu.

Don’t just sit and eat while you explain. Share some with us too.

⁠—Ah?! You already ate most of it?!

Ah. That pizza with all your favorite toppings on it, I saved it for last. Rinne-kun, please don’t try to eat that alone!

Look who’s talking. Bastard.

I really wonder if this counts as training…